Multi-Region Conference Interface for Concurrent Session Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users often face challenges in managing multiple concurrent conference sessions, as existing systems do not allow for simultaneous engagement with live content from multiple sessions, leading to missed important activities and inefficient time management.

Innovation Solution

A conference system that enables users to concurrently engage with live content from multiple sessions by displaying multiple streams in a single user interface, allowing full or partial engagement through adjacent or tabbed views, with notifications for notable events and an interactive timeline for tracking missed activities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a user joins multiple conference sessions simultaneously, then the user can participate in multiple sessions at the same time, but the user cannot effectively manage or monitor live content from all sessions due to system limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to join multiple conference sessionsVSAvoidability to manage and monitor live content

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the user interface into multiple display regions, with each region dedicated to displaying live content from a specific conference session. This segmentation allows users to simultaneously view and manage multiple sessions without confusion, as each session's content is spatially separated and organized in distinct areas of the interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-view interface to a multi-region display interface, adding a spatial dimension to content management. By arranging multiple live content streams in different display regions rather than requiring sequential switching, the system enables simultaneous monitoring of multiple sessions across the two-dimensional display space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a user chooses to fully engage with one conference session, then the user can monitor that session's live content effectively, but the user misses important activities in other concurrent sessions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of engagement with conference sessionVSAvoidmissed important activities in other sessions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple live content streams from different conference sessions into a single unified user interface with multiple display regions. This combination allows users to simultaneously access and monitor all sessions without having to switch between separate applications or windows, ensuring no important activities are missed while maintaining reliable engagement with each session.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If a system displays multiple live content streams simultaneously, then the user can monitor multiple sessions, but the system complexity and interface complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser's ability to multi-task and monitor sessionsVSAvoidinterface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different display characteristics and interaction capabilities for different display regions. Each region can be optimized for its specific content type, with controls and features tailored to the local requirements of each conference session's live content, thereby managing complexity through localized optimization rather than uniform design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Loss of information

If a user switches between multiple conference sessions frequently, then the user can stay updated on all sessions, but the user loses time and efficiency in managing concurrent engagements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestaying updated on all sessionsVSAvoidtime spent switching between sessions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous monitoring of multiple conference sessions simultaneously through the multi-region display interface. Users can maintain uninterrupted engagement with all sessions without needing to switch contexts or applications, ensuring continuous awareness of all live content while eliminating the time loss associated with frequent switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS10547654B2Concurrent engagement with live content of multiple conference sessions

Publication Date: 2020.01.28 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Described herein are techniques to enable a user to concurrently engage with live content and/or chat conversations of multiple conference sessions at the same time. The concurrent engagement is enabled within a single user interface. The user interface is configured to enable the concurrent engagement with live content and/or chat conversations of multiple conference sessions via an adjacent view (e.g., side-by-side, top and bottom, etc.) or a tabbed view. The live content can be configured for display in a first display region of the user interface. The chat conversations can be configured for display in a second display region of the user interface that is adjacent to the first display region. Consequently, a user is able to manage levels of engagement with live content and chat conversations of multiple conference sessions, and switch the levels of engagement to view and/or hear activity amongst the multiple conference sessions.